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Can Bayern maintain unbeaten start against Hagen?

Created on 2014-10-10 at 11:00 AM

A busy week for FC Bayern Basketball ends with another challenging away trip: On Sunday October 11 the German Champions visit Phoenix Hagen on gameday four of the Beko BBL season. Tip-off is at 20:30 CEST and you can keep with the game via www.telekombasketball.de or on Twitter: @fcb_basketball. The “Phoenix” are known for playing a quick and unconventional form of basketball which makes them formidable opponents, especially at the Sportpark Ischeland. “Trips to Hagen are never easy for us. Their home support is incredible and they play a tough and quick form of basketball” explained FCBB Head Coach Svetislav Pesic. “I expect a difficult game. We will need to concentrate if we want to win the game.”

Games in Hagen are always a special occasion for Svetislav Pesic as they represent something of a “return to the beginning” for him. In 1987 he travelled to Hagen from Sarajevo in order to take over as Head Coach of the Germany national team. At the same time his 16 year old son Marko made his debut for Brandt Hagen and the pair lived together in nearby Herdecke. After guiding Germany to European Championship success in Munich in 1993, Pesic senior then moved to Berlin to become ALBA’s heac coach. He has already returned to his roots this season – Bayern beat Phoenix 108-80 in the Krombacher Challenge pre-season tournament.

That game means nothing though when the teams meet again this weekend. Bayern go into the game in great spirits after winning all of their three opening games, although the midweek 80-73 home victory over FRAPORT was a tough challenge. The start is all the more remarkable considering that there are injury problems in the team. One of the stand-out performers thus far is new signing Dusko Savanovic. The Belgrade born player is averaging 15.7 per game and has a 70.4% shot conversion rate.

Phoenix Hagen have had a mixed start to the season. Ingo Freyer’s team beat FRAPORT 105-104 after overtime in their opening fixture but haven’t won since then. Against Bremerhaven a last second buzzer beater saw them lose 85-84 to Bremerhaven. The average age of the Phoenix team is 22 and they were on the wrong end of a 97-75 scoreline against Bamberg.

The Phoenix finished tenth in the regular season last time out and narrowly missed out on a play-off spot. This year they hope to go one better and reach the post-season games. The team are captained by Point Guard and current top-scorer Frederick Zamal Nixon. He is currently averaging 19 points and 4.3 assists per game. Nixon, who arrived from Austrian side WBC Wels in the summer, is hoping to lead the club into the play-offs once more. Despite losing Mark Dorris and Henry Dugat during the off-season, their defence remains strong thanks to the addition of Shooting Guard Todd Brown, who was signed from Finnish outfit Lappeenrannan NMKY.

Bayern return to the Audi Dome on Sunday 19th October against newly promoted BC Göttingen. The phrase ‘Always on Sundays’ could be applied to FC Bayern Basketball this season, at least as far as home games are concerned. From now on, with minimal exceptions, FCBB’s home games will be played on a Sunday at 17:00 in the Audi Dome.